Man of the House: A Dark Bad Boy Romance(189)

Caralee gave me a little grin. She looked cute as hell in her little bridesmaid dress, and as much as that smile annoyed me, I couldn’t be mad. “Things still weird between you two?”

“Maybe,” I said. “Maybe not.”

She laughed. “Yeah, okay. I can practically smell the tension between you two.”

“That obvious?”

“Only to people who are breathing.”

I sighed. “I guess it’s pretty messed up to want another man on my wedding day.”

Caralee joined me at the mirror. “In this instance, I think you’ll be okay.”

My mind buzzed back over my father’s plan, and I took a deep breath, steadying myself. I was nervous as hell, I had to admit, but my role in all this was pretty small.

I just had to get up there and say some words. I just had to marry a man. That was it, nothing special, nothing permanent or life-changing.

“Come on, let’s make sure you’re perfect.” Caralee started fussing with my dress and my makeup.

I couldn’t pay much attention to any of it. I knew it mattered, that appearances mattered in this, but I couldn’t really care. None of this was what I wanted, but there I was, getting married anyway.

I thought time was supposed to drag when you were nervous. But when Clutch knocked on the door again, it felt like he had just stepped out of the room.

He opened the door. “Ready?”

“Ready,” Caralee said.

He looked at me. “I’ll be with you.”

“I know.”

I walked forward, taking a deep breath, and stepped out the door, Caralee in tow.

“Caralee, you go first with Burke. Larkin will walk Janine down the aisle.” Caralee nodded.

We moved down the back hallway and stopped near Larkin’s office door. It was open, and inside were Burke and Larkin, both looking uncomfortable in their suits.

“Hello, boys,” I said, stepping inside.

“Wow,” Larkin said. “Honey, you look beautiful.”

“Thanks, Dad.” He took my hand and squeezed it, smiling.

Caralee stood next to Burke. They just nodded to each other without speaking. Burke had been in a bad mood all day long, probably because his plan had fallen apart. At least his plan to kill me and take over the club. The wedding was probably never meant to happen, but there was nothing they could do it about it now.

“When the music starts, you two go,” Clutch said to Burke and Caralee.

Burke grunted and Caralee smiled.

“Nervous?” Larkin whispered into my ear.

“Yeah,” I said, “but I’ll be okay.”

“Good. You’ll do great.”

The music started a minute later and Clutch pushed open the door. “Go,” he said.

They walked out and Clutch shut the door.

“When the music changes, it’s your turn,” he said to me. “Good luck. I’ll be nearby.”

I smiled at him. “See you out there.”

And then the music changed.

Clutch opened the door.

We stepped out into the main bar room.

The aisle led from Larkin’s door between rows of folding chairs. The men from each club were sitting on either side, hard biker men packed into those little white chairs. The bar itself was decorated in white and black, streamers and balloons and tables and alcohol everywhere. There were flowers and centerpieces, most of them in the shape of Harleys.

Larkin walked next to me as we moved down the aisle. Ahead, Ford was standing where the preacher usually stood, grinning his face off. He was acting as the officiator since nobody much cared about having a priest at a biker wedding.

And standing to his left was Jetter. He looked completely at ease in a white tux that stood out from what the other men were wearing, which was a mix of suits and normal leather vests over jeans. Burke was standing next to Jetter as his best man.

Larkin moved slowly with me, and I felt butterflies take over my stomach, rocking through my body. I really was nervous as hell as we got closer and closer.

I couldn’t believe this was happening. But the whole club was out here for this, including every one of the Rebels. I was about to get married, and that would be the end of it.

As we got closer to the front, I looked around the crowd. I couldn’t see Clutch anywhere. I glanced back, but the door to the office was open and he was gone.

I looked forward reluctantly as we finally made it to the front. Larkin kissed my cheek and then took his seat up front. Caralee leaned forward and whispered in my ear.

“Clutch is nearby. Don’t worry,” she said, smiling.

I nodded and turned to face forward as Ford held his hands up, silencing the music and the crowd.

“Okay, everyone,” he said loudly. “We’re here to witness the wedding of Janine and Jetter.”

“No shit,” Dow called out. “Get to the good bits, brother.”

There was laughter in the crowd.

“Yeah, some people are impatient, but f*cking listen up,” Ford said. “This union will bring our two clubs together, the Rebels and the Demons, so if you’ve got a f*cking problem with that, speak up now.”

There was dead silence among the men.

“Make them kiss already,” Noble yelled.

Ford grinned. “Okay, shit, fine. Fuck.” He looked at Jetter. “Do you take this fine-ass lady as your wife?”